The Battle of Ezra Church and the Struggle for Atlanta
- A Selection of the History Book Club
- A Selection of the Military Book Club
- A Selection of the Scientific American Book Club
- A Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club
To order, go to: https://uncpress.org/book/9781469642260/the-battle-of-ezra-church-and-the-struggle-for-atlanta/
"Exploring
a pivotal but often overlooked battle in the Civil War, The
Battle of Ezra Church is the first book-length examination
of the battle of Ezra Church. Well written and well
researched, this book offers invaluable descriptions of
troop movements and battle actions, as well as keen analysis
of strategy and how individual battles fit into the larger
context of the Atlanta Campaign. In his account of this
bloody conflict, Earl Hess reminds us that he is one of the
finest Civil War historians writing today." -- Keith S.
Bohannon, University of West Georgia
"This excellent study builds on Earl Hess's earlier work on Sherman's
Atlanta campaign, providing a gripping treatment of the last
in a series of bloody engagements near the city in July
1864. The narrative reflects the author's sure grasp of
sources, keen eye for biographical detail, and ability to
evoke the drama and complexity of major military events.
Anyone interested in the campaign that brought a sea change
in both Union and Confederate national morale in 1864 will
read this book with profit." --
Gary
W. Gallagher, author of The Union War
Fought on July 28, 1864, the Battle of Ezra Church was a stunning engagement during the Civil War’s Atlanta Campaign. Confederate forces under John Bell Hood desperately fought to stop William T. Sherman’s advancing armies as they tried to cut the last Confederate supply line into the city. Confederates under General Stephen D. Lee nearly overwhelmed the Union right flank, but Federals under General Oliver O. Howard decisively repelled every attack. After five hours of struggle, 5,000 Confederates lay dead and wounded while only 632 Federals were lost. The result was another major step in Sherman’s long effort to take Atlanta.
Hess’s compelling study is the first book-length account of the fight at Ezra Church. Detailing Lee’s tactical missteps and Howard’s vigilant leadership, he challenges many common misconceptions about the battle. Richly detailed and drawn from an array of unpublished manuscripts and first-hand accounts, Hess sheds new light on the complexities and significance of this important and dramatic engagement, both on and off the battlefield.
Published By:
The University of North Carolina Press
P.O. Box 2288
Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2288
1-800-848-6224